The departure of Gareth Bale on a stretcher in stoppage time spread an even
deeper sense of unease around White Hart Lane and aroused fears that the
campaign could end in another bitter disappointment.

The anxiety about the extent of the injury to his right ankle superseded the
concerns and questions about a shoddy and loose display from a Tottenham
Hotspur side, who again enjoyed good fortune in the Europa League.

Basle deserved great credit for marshalling Bale and resisting the temptation
to concede cheap free kicks, limiting him to one opportunity from a dead
ball, but the Swiss side